As he prepares for Monday night's exhibition in Washington, a game that could decide whether he or Brian Hoyer start the regular season opener at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7, Manziel said he's still got a lot to learn.

"I don't think I'm ready for Pittsburgh right now," he said.

Manziel, though, was quick to point out that he's made progress during training camp and expects to get better in Cleveland's offense.

"I've only played one game, but the more and more you see it, the more you get familiar with it, the better it will be," he said. "I think there's guys who have played in this league for a long time who can sit there after years and years of playing games and still don't have it all figured out. It's tricky stuff."

Manziel and Hoyer will split time with Cleveland's first-team offense against the Redskins in a game that is being hyped as a nationally televised matchup between Johnny Football and RGIII, Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III.

In his meeting with news reporters Saturday, Manziel also acknowledged that he was late for a meeting Monday morning, but said he did not think that had any bearing on the decision to start Hoyer vs. Washington.

"I misread the schedule on Monday," he said. "I think we had to come in at 7:30 and I think it was the only day that we've had to come in at that time throughout camp and I was on time for what I thought was our normal 8:15 meeting time, so it was just a misinterpretation, a misreading of the schedule.

"I sat down with coach Pettine and I talked to him and we handled it and we've moved on. Obviously it's something (where) I just need to do a better job of reading the schedule the night before but it was an honest mistake and something I need to learn from and make sure it doesn't happen again.''

Pettine told reporters it was an internal matter and he regretted that it was made public. ESPN's Chris Mortensen initially reported that Manziel was late.

Manziel said by saying he wasn't ready to play Week 1, doesn't mean he couldn't be ready by the time the season opener arrives.

"I don't want that taken out of context, it's just right now in my second preseason game, I'm not ready to go out and start Week 1 because there's a lot of time left until that point," he said. "For me, there's plenty of weeks left to learn to get adapted to the speed and then if I was the starter for Pittsburgh in Week 1 you have to be ready. It's Week 1, it's the opening week of the season and it's a big game."

"I think from what coach Pettine and everybody has stated from the beginning, they said it was an equal and open competition and I don't think that has changed," he said.

Hoyer, who entered camp as the No. 1 QB and has done nothing to lose his starting job, was unaware that he's not part of the ratings campaign.

"I don't watch ESPN, so until you told me that I didn't know," he said after practice Saturday. "It doesn't matter, because what matters is what coach (Mike) Pettine thinks and what (offensive coordinator) Kyle (Shanahan) thinks. The media can make any story they want. I avoid all of that. When it comes down to it, they're not the ones making the decisions."

Pettine is determined to get Hoyer and Manziel an even amount of snaps against the Redskins. Pettine plans to meet with his staff and pick a starter Tuesday.

Although Manziel appears to be line to be Cleveland's starter at some point in the future, Hoyer said he hasn't "heard that" and is blocking out trade speculation that began when the Browns signed Rex Grossman earlier this week.

"I guess people were trying to connect the dots and that's your job to do that," he said. "For me, I'm not concerned about anything like that. I'm looking forward to being the starting quarterback here. "

Johnny Manziel received his first regular-season action in Week 2, taking three snaps against the Saints. The rookie handed off twice and threw one incomplete pass in the Browns' come-from-behind win. (Photo: Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)

Browns players and coaches have praised Manziel's early approach, showing appreciation for his work ethic and willingness to keep a low profile in the locker room, something rookies are generally expected to do no matter how famous. (Photo: Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)

Tutoring Manziel will be Cleveland offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who helped Robert Griffin III to offensive rookie of the year honors with the Redskins in 2012. (Photo: Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports)